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It
may even help boost your child’s intelligence if your nurse for at least 7
months

It’s good for the mother too, in lots of ways:

Helps
you get back to your pre-pregnancy weight faster

Helps
your uterus get back to its normal size faster

Reduces
the risk of ovarian cancer and, in women who are pre-menopausal, it reduces
the risk of breast cancer

The longer you breastfeed, the more benefits to you and your baby. Talk to your
doctor for help and information about breastfeeding. Your childbirth instructor
is another good source of information about nursing your baby. Or visit La Leche
League’s Web site http://www.lalecheleague.org/bfinfo.html
if you’d like to check things out on your own first.

Source:
American Academy of Pediatrics, La Leche League

Is “Healthy Choice®” Healthy?Ever wonder about the frozen entrées that claim to be
healthy and smart? There are a couple of ways to look at it. If you actually eat
only that particular entrée, you’re doing well in terms of portion size, and
you’re getting a nice amount of vitamins and minerals. The key is to avoid
eating other foods during the meal.

The other issue is that almost all Healthy Choice® entrées
contain some hydrogenated and saturated fat. These are the fats that can
contribute to heart disease. Smart Ones® entrées, which are made by Weight
Watchers®, are less likely to have these fats in their meals.

A look at the ingredients list on the food packaging shows
you there are plenty of additives in these kinds of meals, so don’t make a
daily habit of them.

Snacks Can Work for YouSnacks are not forbidden food. In fact, eating a healthy
snack two hours or so before a meal can keep your hunger in check. You’re less
likely to overeat if you’re not feeling extremely hungry.

Obviously, the key is to keep snack portions snack size.
And make sure they’re nutritious, and not empty calories. A bag of potato
chips doesn’t count as a healthy snack. Instead, choose an apple one day, a
banana the next, maybe even a quarter of a baked potato the next. Variety is
another key to making sure you get a lot of nutrients.

Source:
American Dietetic Association

When you Can’t Eat DairyAll children are born with an enzyme called lactase, which
is necessary to digest milk. Some people lose this enzyme and become lactose
intolerant. For them, eating dairy products can cause gas, cramps and diarrhea.

Here’s a breakdown of percentages of the population
having trouble digesting dairy products:

Asian Americans

95%

African Americans

65%

American
Indians

65%

Hispanic Americans

50%

Caucasians

15%

If you can't eat dairy products, there are other ways for
you to get calcium. Calcium-fortified orange juice has as much calcium per glass
as milk—about 300 milligrams. Two tablespoons of blackstrap molasses has about
270. A handful of almonds has 100. Dark leafy green vegetables, broccoli,
soybeans and canned salmon also contain calcium.

Source:
American Dietetic Association

Carrots for Your Eyes?Carrots contain vitamin A, which you need for healthy eyes.
But the eyes need vitamins C and E too. Good sources for all these vitamins
include dark orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, like carrots, squash,
cantaloupe, oranges and grapefruit.

You also want to eat fruits and vegetables that are
brightly colored—reds, blues, greens—because these contain phytochemicals
that are good for the eyes.